Rectilinear comber



Dec. 19, 1967 J. F. HERUBEL RECTILINEAR COMBER Fi led Oct. 14, '1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 19, 1967 F. HERUBEL 3,358,516

RECTILINEAR COMBER Filed Oct. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,358,516 RECTILINEAR COMBER Jean Frederic Herubel, Guebwiller, France, assignor to N. Schlumberger & Cie, Guebwiller, Haut-Rhin, France, a French societe a responsabilite limitee Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. N 495,913 Claims priority, application France, Oct. 23, 1965,

9 Claims. (or. 74- 2 ABSTRAiIT OF THE DISCLOSURE A driver for a detaching roller of a rectilinear comber wherein the roller is rotated continuously by a drive element subjected to the simultaneous and superimposed action of two independent drive systems one of which drives the drive element at a constant speed and the other of which is variable and reversible.

This invention relates to the rectilinear combers conventionally used in the textile industry, and more particularly to combers used for processing wool, flax tow and any other chemical fibres (cut fibres).

Combers are fed with a continuous lap of the fibres which it is required to comb. These fibres pass through a feed comb and are introduced by retaining nippers to the needle bar of a circular comb which, as it rotates, combs the head end of the fibres. The fibre sliver is thus interrupted.

A detaching system disposed after the retaining nippers is intended to re-form a continuous web by superposition. This superposition is known as jointing.

After the head ends have been combed, a detaching carriage bearing two detaching rollers and an endless belt begins to approach the retaining nippers to detach the combed web and superpose it on the part of the web previously combed.

To permit jointing, the web detached by the carriage undergoes a pilgrim step movement. The detaching rollers are driven with a reciproacting forward and reverse rotation. The forward rotation of the detaching rollers detaches the web from the retaining nippers. The reverse movement of the detaching rollers is required for jointing. The detaching roller drive is adjustably in such a manner that the forward rotation is always greater than the rearward rotation.

In known drive mechanisms, the detaching roller is driven positively over all its travel in the forward direction of rotation by means of a freewheel pinion engaging a reciprocating toothed sector, while, in the reverse direction, it is driven by another pinion connected to the roller and engaging another toothed sector only for a much shorter period. The latter toothed sector is shorter than the forward drive toothed sector. Consequently the reverse drive connection is broken when the reverse drive pinion leaves its sector. The forward and reverse movement is adjustable, firstly, by varying the offsetting of the two drive sectors for the detaching rollers and, secondly, by adjustment of the amplitude of oscillation of these sectors.

Recently, the speeds of'operation of combers have increased continuously and the hereinbefore described drive mechanism for the detaching roller no longer reliably ensures control of the web during detaching. The high speed at whichelements are driven, their inertia, the vibrations they have to undergo, all these are harmful to transportation and jointing of the web.

The reverse drive movement is positive as long as the pinion meshing with the small reverse drive sector is in actual engagement therewith. The drive is no longer positive when this pinion leaves the sector, in which case the detaching rollers continue in rotation by reason of their own inertia and the inertia of their drive elements. Precise stoppage of the detaching rollers dependens directly on the speed of the machine, state of Wear of the control elements, frequency of lubrication, tension of the endless belt, friction of the fibre holder on the belt, and many other factors which vary from one machine to another and which make optimum adjustment for a given material difficult. Stoppage of the reverse movement of the detaching rollers is thus inaccurate and this results in irregularities in the web which may reach a state such that the web breaks.

The object of this invention is to provide a reciprocating rotation drive for the detaching rollers of a rectilinear comber to obviate the above disadvantages while giving a robust construction and allowing the required adjustments for the material being processed, while providing a system which is convenient unlike the drive mechanisms known heretofore.

To this end, according to the invention, one of the detaching rollers is rotated continuously by a drive element subject to the simultaneous action of two independent drive systems, at least one of the said systems having a variable and reversible action.

The drive element may be an endless chain engaging a chain wheel connected to a detaching roller on the one hand, and chain guide wheels carried by a beam preforming a reciprocating pivoting movement and, on the other hand, a drive chain wheel driven positively in one constant direction of rotation and at a constant speed.

The phase and/ or amplitude of the reciprocating movement of the beam with respect to those of other elements of the comber may be adjustable.

The beam may be driven by a crank plate and connecting rod, the position of the points of articulation of the connecting rod on the crank plate on the one hand and the beam on the other hand being adjustable.

The drive for the shaft of the crank plate and of the drive chain wheel may comprise a system of two eccentric wheels or of one eccentric wheel together with an elliptical wheel so that the detaching rollers can be controlled with maximum precision in respect of the ratio of the forward and reverse movements.

The chain guide wheels respectively carried by the beam may be subject to the action of tighteners.

The drive chain wheel may be pivotally mounted on the shaft on which the beam pivots.

The constant drive speed of the drive chain wheel may be adjustable.

The drive chain for the detaching roller may be mounted on a system comprising four chain guide wheels two of which are disposed on the rockable beam while the other two are disposed on the frame so as to form parallel runs of the chain and amplify the movement of the chain for a given amplitude of the pivoting movement of the beam.

The present invention will be described further with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a drive system according to the invention shown at the beginning of the detaching phase;

FIG. 2 shows the same system at the beginning of the reversal phase;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a detail of another embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a detail of a further embodiment.

In the drawings, no particular description of a rectilinear comber is given as such a device is well known to in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows the beginning of the detaching phase. A detaching roller 2'rotates in the direction of the arrow f1.

A chain wheel 1 connected to the carriage mounted detaching roller 2 driving an endless belt 3 is driven by a chain 4. The chain 4 is mounted on a drive system comprising a beam 5 bearing chain guide wheels 6 and 7 mounted freely on trunnions 8 and 9 of tighteners 10 and 11 which are pivotable about pivots 12 and 13 carried by the beams 5 and are loaded by a spring 14 mounted in notches 15 and 16 in the tighteners so as to tighten the chain in every operating position. The beam 5 is mounted with rotational freedom on the shaft 17 and reciprocates through the agency of a connecting rod 18 and crank 19. The beam 5 has a slot 21 in the top part to receive the bearing 22 for the connecting rod 18 to allow the amplitude of the reciprocating movement to be adjusted. The crank 19 has an arcuate adjustment slot 23 so that the action of the beam on the chain can be timed. During its reciprocating movement the beam 5 drives the chain 4 with a forward and backward movement through the agency of the wheels 6 and 7.

The chain 4 also meshes with a chain wheel 24 mounted with rotational freedom on the shaft 17 and connected to a pinion 25 which is driven by the pinion 26 connected to the shaft 27. The amplitude of the movement of the chain as a result of the rocking movement of the beam 5 at any given moment is greater than the movement resulting from the drive by the wheel 24.

The system as described above operates as follows:

At the beginning of the detaching stage, the beam 5 driven by the crank and connecting rod pivots about the shaft 17 in the direction of arrow f2. Chain 4 is urged in the direction of arrow 3 and rotates the detaching cylinder 2' in the direction of the arrow f1.

The chain 4 is also urged in the same direction (arrow f3) by the chain wheel 24' which is driven with a uniform movement always in the same direction (arrow f4). The two movements are added to one another and control the detaching movementof the detaching roller.

FIG. 2 shows the beginning of the withdrawal stage. The detaching movement continues simultaneously with the withdrawal of the carriage (not shown) bearing the detaching rollers. The reversal of the rotation of the detaching rollers corresponds to the maximum outgoing position of the carriage. However, the drive system is so designed as' to enable the reversalmovement to be timed either in advance of or after the movement of the carnage'.

To obtain the reversal of the detaching rollers (arrow f5), the beam 5, as it moves'in the direction of arrow f6, drives'the' ch'ain4 in the direction of arrow f7. Reversal occurs when the movement of the beam and of the wheel 24are of equal amplitude and opposite signs. The angular velocity of the beam then continues to increase. The linear displacement of the chain as a result of the beam movement remains greaterthan that of the wheel for the time required to'develop the length of web for joining (direction of arrow f5).

This drive system is so designed that the two directions of rotation of the detaching rollers can readily be controlled and so the time of reversal can be adjusted in a given ratio dependin'g'upon the materials being worked.

Thus the time of reversal of the direction of rotation of'the detaching rollers is adjustable of the movement of the beam 5 and of the wheel 24.

The pinion 26 connected to the shaft 27 is interchangeable'to control theoverlap length.

Adjustment of the connecting rod in the slot 21 enables the detaching length to be varied depending upon the mean length of the material being processed.

A variant of the drive system for the detaching rollers (FIG. 3) comprises mounting the chain on a device comprising four chain guide wheels so that as it engages the latter it forms parallel runs to give maximum displacement of the chain for a given pivoting angle of the beam.

Adjustable stops on the beam arms control the travel of the tighteners and eliminate any sudden impacts on the chain.

FIG. 3 shows a variant which in addition to the chain guide wheels 6 and 7 carried by the beam 5 comprises another two chain guide wheels 30 and 31 fixed 0n the frame of the machine, these wheels being so arranged that the chain 4 forms parallel runs so as to give maximum displacement of the chain fora given pivoting angle of the beam 5. The travel of the tighteners 10 and 11 at the moment of reversal is limited by stops 33 and 34.

In the variant shown in FIG. 4, the chain wheel 24 in the previous embodiments is replaced by a'wheel 3:2 disposed in the same way but having a much larger diameter, the chain guide Wheels 6 and 7 being so disposed as to increase the arc of engagement of the chain 4 with the drive wheel 32.

Of course the embodiments described hereinbefore and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are given solely by way of example without any limiting effect and the form, arrangement, nature and assembly of the elements can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus the application of the invention is not restricted to rectilinear combersbecause the system can be used on any machine involving asimilar problem.

I claim:

1. A drive system producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear cornber comprising a first chain wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide wheel means, pivotally mounted beams rotatably carry ing said guide wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said beam means, said chain guide wheel mean-s constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; seconddrive means comprising second chain drive wheel means and second chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive wheel means at a constant speed in one direction of rotation, and phase adjusting means operative on said beam pivoting means.

2. A drivesystem producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear comber comprising a first chain wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide wheel means, pivotally mounted beams rotatably carrying said guide wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said' beam means, said chain guide wheel means constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; second drive means comprising second chain drive wheel means and second chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive wheel means at a constant speed in one direction ofrotation, and amplitude adjusting means operative on said beam pivoting means.

3. A drive system producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear comber comprising a first chain wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide wheel means, pivotally mounted beams rotatably carrying said guide wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said beam means, said chain guide wheel means constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; and second drive means comprising second chain drive Wheel me n and scCQnd chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive wheel means at a constant speed in one direction of rotation, said beam pivoting means comprising crank plate means, means driving said crank plate means, connecting rod means, first adjusting means adjustably connecting the connecting rod means to said crank plate means and secand adjusting means adjustably connecting said connecting rod means to said beam means.

4. The drive system of claim 3 wherein said drives of said crank plate means and said second chain drive wheel means comprise an eccentric system.

5. A drive system producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear comber comprising a first chain wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide Wheel means, pivotally mounted beam means, rotatably carrying said guide Wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said beam means, said chain guide wheel means constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; second drive means comprising second chain drive wheel means and second chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive Wheel means at a constant speed in one direction of rotation, and chain guide wheel tightening means operative on said chain guide wheel means.

6. The drive system of claim 5, further comprising loading spring means for said chain guide wheel tightening means and stops carried by said beam means for limiting the movement of said chain guide wheel tightening means.

7. A drive system producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear comber comprising a first chain Wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide Wheel means, pivotally mounted beams rotatably carrying said guide wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said beam means, said chain guide wheel means constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; second drive means comprising second chain drive wheel means and second chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive Wheel means at a constant speed in one direction of rotation, and second chain wheel driving adjustment means operative on the second chain wheel driving means.

8. A drive system producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear comber comprising a first chain Wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide wheel means, pivotally mounted beams rotatably carrying said guide wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said beam means, said chain guide wheel means constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; second drive means comprising second chain drive wheel means and second chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive Wheel means at a constant speed in one direction of rotation, a second pair of chain guide Wheels, and fixed frame means supporting said second pair of chain guide wheels, said endless chain drive element passing around said second pair of chain guide wheels to form two parallel pairs of chain runs.

9. A drive system producing reciprocating rotation of a carriage mounted detaching roller of a rectilinear comber comprising a first chain wheel coupled to the roller, an endless chain drive element constantly engaging said first chain wheel; first drive means comprising chain guide wheel means, pivotally mounted beams rotatably carrying said guide wheel means and beam pivoting means for reciprocally pivoting said beam means, said chain guide wheel means constantly engaging said endless chain drive element; and second drive means comprising second chain drive Wheel means and second chain drive wheel driving means driving said second chain drive wheel means at a constant speed in one direction of rotation, said second chain drive Wheel means being of large diameter and said chain guide wheel means being located to cause said endless chain drive element to be in contact with said second chain drive wheel means over a substantial arc thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,524 6/1914 Cox 74-320 2,520,527 8/1950 Campion 7482 2,650,093 8/1953 Shields 74-82 2,937,536 5/1960 Clement 74393 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. H. S. LAYTON, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,358,516 December 19, 1967 Jean Frederic Herubel It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, line 7, for "Oct. 23, 1965," read Oct. 23, 1964,

Signed and sealed this 11th day of March 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. A DRIVE SYSTEM PRODUCING RECIPROCATING ROTATION OF A CARRIAGE MOUNTED DETACHING ROLLER OF A RECTILINEAR COMBER COMPRISING A FIRST CHAIN WHEEL COUPLED TO THE ROLLER, AN ENDLESS CHAIN DRIVE ELEMENT CONSTANTLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST CHAIN WHEEL; FIRST DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING CHAIN GUIDE WHEEL MEANS, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BEAMS ROTATABLY CARRYING SAID GUIDE WHEEL MEANS AND BEAM PIVOTING MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY PIVOTING SAID BEAM MEANS, SAID CHAIN GUIDE WHEEL MEANS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING SAID ENDLESS CHAIN DRIVE ELEMENT; SECOND DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING SECOND CHAIN DRIVE WHEEL MEANS AND SECOND CHAIN DRIVE WHEEL DRIVING MEANS DRIVING SAID SECOND CHAIN DRIVE WHEEL MEANS AT A CONSTANT SPEED IN ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION, 